Lime Coconut Sugar Cookies

Summer is all about citrus fruits and berries, right? In Atlanta, the temperatures frequently reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit and I don't know many people who enjoy eating heavy meals if it's that hot. So, these lime cookies taste like summer. I mean that. Lime and coconut. Summer, right? 

They are kind of like a key lime pie cookie if you will. And if you feel like having some chocolate, these can be drizzled with melted chocolate to create an even more delightful summer treat. Coconut, lime, and chocolate. Yes, please. 

Let's start. Let's start with flour, sugar, lemon extract, vanilla extract, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, limes, butter and an egg. 

I forgot to put the coconut flakes into the picture. Because I was busy toasting them and while I took the picture of the ingredients, the coconut flakes were in the toaster oven. Toasting. Making the kitchen smell delicious, turning golden brown and making me want to eat the coconut flakes with some vanilla yogurt (great combo, by the way...)

Oh and here are all the things you'll need to make the dough for the lime cookies: Measuring cup, grinder, bowls, electric mixer (or a kitchenaid if you wan to make me jealous), and a lime/lemon juicer.

To start with the dough making, combine the baking powder, baking soda, and salt with the flour. 

In another small bowl combine the lime zest and lime juice.

Add the softened butter and sugar to another medium sized bowl.

With an electric mixer beat the butter and the sugar together until smooth and well combined. 

Beat in the egg, lemon extract, and vanilla extract. Then slowly add the lime juice and zest.

Add the toasted coconut flakes and then gradually beat the flour mix into the sugar mix.

Tadaaa, that's it. There is your dough. Time to preheat the oven. Pump it up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Well don't pump, just set the temperature. 

Now what do you do with the dough? You set up a little work area. Since these are sugar cookies, it would be nice to roll them in some sugar. If you're into nuts, you could also roll them in some slivered almonds. Almonds work well with citrus-y things. 

For the rolling any kind of sugar will do, except for powdered or liquid sugar. White sugar, cane sugar, raw sugar or even brown sugar will work. I did half of my cookies with organic raw cane sugar and the other half with organic white sugar. Obviously  organic sugar isn't really necessary, but if you care about what you eat even in the slightest it may be something to consider. I am trying to mainly buy organic fruits, vegetables, milk, and meats and am starting to also restock my baking supplies by buying organic flour, sugar, eggs, etc. 

But as I said, if you don't have the organic kind, just use the regular sugar. 

Oh, and here is a little side note, sometimes Trader Joe's organic fruits/vegetable/flour/sugar etc. are cheaper than the non organic kind. It's weird, but I've noticed it more than once, so I'm fairly convinced it wasn't just an accident. 

Alright, back to the cookies. Form them into little balls, roll them in the sugar and place them on a baking sheet.

Put the cookies in the oven and wait, or if you feel like it, you can start rolling more sugar covered cookie dough balls.

By the way, those brownish red things in the dough are the toasted coconut flakes. Just in case anyone was wondering as I was when looking at the pictures... It's been five days since I made these, gee. 

This is what the cookies look like when they come out of the oven. Tasty.

Now you can get fancy and throw some chocolate on them or you can just eat them plain. Some Chewy Lime Coconut Sugar Cookies. with a glass of milk. 

Sounds pretty good, right? 

That tray came from a garage sale. Isn't it pretty? 

Make some! They are really easy and pretty much mess up prove. Oh and if you don't have limes you can use lemons, or oranges or even grapefruit. They all work and make for delicious citrus cookies. It would make me happy if you made some. Or even if you came by and ate some. But they are really easy to make. You can do it. I promise!

Guten Appetit!

Chewy Lime Coconut Sugar Cookies

adapted from My Baking Addiction

- 2 and 3/4 cups of sugar

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 1 teaspoon baking poder

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1 cup of butter, softened (not melted, but at room temperature)

- 1  1/2 cups of sugar

- 1 egg

- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

- zest of 1 and 1/2 limes (grated or finely minced)

- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

- 1 cup (preferably unsweetened) toasted coconut

- about 1/2 cup of sugar for rolling cookies

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or Aluminum Foil.

In a small bowl stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 

In a second bowl beat together the softened butter and sugar for about three minutes.

Add the egg, the vanilla and lemon extract and the lime zest and juice.

Slowly blend in the dry ingredients and the toasted coconut.

Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into small balls and roll them in the sugar. Place them on the cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Let the cookies stand on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack or put them on a layer of paper towel to fully cool down.

Columbia; no, not Colombia South America

I haven't written anything in a few days because I haven't spent any time in the kitchen in a few days. I did however eat a few good things and took pictures of those things. Aside from the food I also have a bunch of other pictures to share. 

Ok, so the boyfriend and I spontaneously went to Columbia, South Carolina to visit a friend for his Birthday. We stayed with another friend who also lives in Columbia as of right now. A third friend came from Washington D.C. on his way back to Atlanta to meet up as well. So, it was quite the get-together. 

So, here is what we did. 

We arrived late Friday evening and went to the bar that our Birthday-friend was at. I don't have any pictures of this, put he was pleasantly surprised to see us. It was great. 

The next day we slept in late (only interrupted by getting up to watch Formula 1 qualifying) and then went to a pool party. And I mean pool party. The girls-with-plastic-boobage-and-tiny-bikinis kind of pool party. Oh, and there was a beer barrel floating in the pool. It was that kind of a pool party. 

The beer barrel garnered quite a lot of attention and evolved into a pool toy after losing its purpose as a beer dispensing device. 

Everyone got a turn...

Oh, despite a huge sign that stated "No pets allowed in pool area," Liese came with us and enjoyed a little Rest and Recuperation as well.

Oh, I did make a Birthday cake for my friend. Well, I decided not to make a heavy actual Birthday cake and just made summer Berry crumb bars. I think my friends enjoyed it. 

After the pool party we went home, took naps (naps are the best!) and then went to get dinner at Pearlz Oyster Bar in Columbia. Looking back I don't really know why exactly we went there, considering that in our group of six no one besides me seemed to really enjoy the taste of fresh oysters. Not that I'm complaining. I definitely love oysters. Mainly the fresh ones. But I won't hesitate to eat baked ones either. Anyway, we started by enjoying some oyster shots. An oyster shot consists of a raw oyster, tabasco, lemon juice and tabasco. Nom nom nom.

And then came dinner. A dozen fresh oysters from the gulf coast.

This is me eating (slurping) one of those oysters.

 The boyfriend had a tuna burger with asian coleslaw. It was very tasty.

After enjoying all these great things we went out and took a lot of pictures. Here are a few.

This first one is a group shot. Except that at this point we didn't really know the guy in the middle. He looked like one of our other friends though and we decided to take a picture with him. 

At one point someone thought it would be funny if we all touched each others noses. Don't ask. (Mainly because I don't know.)

There was some dancing, too.

Actually a lot of dancing. And some more awkward touching.

And even kissy lips next to handsome boys. Uh-oh.

After this bar we went to some other bars in the area of Five Points. 

And then nothing but sleeping happened for a while. Well, once again the sleeping process was interrupted by watching Formula 1 at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Then eventually we had a carb-laden lunch at Mellow Mushrooms, and spent some time by the pool before taking another nap and heading to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. We don't have Buffalo Wild Wings in Atlanta, at least not that I know of. The food was alright, I just kind of expected the Buffalo Ranch Dressing to be spicy or have some other relation to Buffalo sauce instead of just being plain old ranch dressing. Oh and the Buffalo fries thingis could have had some seasoning on them as well... But that might just be me...

Anyways, it was our waitress's 21st Birthday (she had the same name as one of the Disney princesse's... awwww). Soooo, two of us walked over to walmart and bought her a birthday card and a Disney princess balloon. 

The boyfriend had an interview in Columbia on Monday so we stayed until Monday night. I went to a Mall and only bought something a Williams and Sonoma. I think something might be wrong with me. 

On the way back we stopped in Augusta and walked around on the River Walk. 

And we took a bunch of pictures, awwww. 

Oh, yea, Liese walked around with us and did some posing...

She got tired and actually decided to lie down on the backseat, which she almost never does. 

Oh, history was also written when the boyfriend got passed by a truck. It was crazy and actually happened multiple times since we were going kind of slow because of car issues. 

Overall a good long weekend. Hopefully, though, I can get back to doing things in the kitchen now, and use the things I acquired at Williams and Sonoma. 

Not so messy Eton Mess

I have a friend who is domestically challenged. She is very bright and really fun, but uncrustables are her idea of a nutritious dessert. So, this dessert is for her. Because I think she can manage it. And because I made it with her in mind. 
Just to illustrate, we went to Lake Martin a few weeks ago. Four girls. On the way there we stopped at a shopping mall with Target and Kroger to buy some stuff to cook dinner and to buy some floats. Well we got to the Target and she got excited because they had food as well and we could just get things to cook dinner right there at Target. Except that this wasn't one of those Targets that have real food. It only had frozen foods. But for her that was enough to cook dinner. There was a lot of awkward laughing and a lot of "Are you for real? This is dinner for you? Every night?" 


It turned out the preparation of a fairly normal dinner for the rest of us girls was sort of like domestication bootcamp for her.
Here are four other examples to illustrate why I hope, but am not entirely convinced, she can make this dessert. 


1. My friend just moved. She reads a lot and has an impressive collection of books. If you would visit her, you would find half the kitchen cabinets stacked not with dishes or foods, but with books. 
2. She doesn't know what shortening is. 
3. One time I visited her and except for milk (for coffee), pickles and olives there wasn't really anything in her fridge.
4. She gets excited about carrots and ranch dip because it's "real food."


So, this is for my friend and I really hope she can make this. I like her a lot. And I want her to be able to make something in the kitchen, aside from putting uncrustables in the toaster. 


First you'll need whipped cream, the tub kind is ok. But it's nicer if you just whip it up yourself and add some vanilla and some sugar. 

Now, maybe add some yogurt, yea?

And cut up some fresh strawberries. 

Vanilla wafers. Get some of those, too. Crumble them up! 

Start the layering by spreading the yogurt and whipped cream mix on the bottom of your glasses.

Now, crumble some vanilla wafers on the whipped cream and then top the cookie pieces off with strawberries. And to that add another layer of whipped cream and yogurt mix.

Add another layer of wafer crumbles and strawberries or even a third layer of each if your glasses allow.

Top that with a fresh mint leave if you happen to have some and Taa-daa! There you have a delicious and nutritious dessert.

Guten Appetit!


Eton Mess
- Strawberries
- 1 small container of heavy cream (you can even get the prepared tub if you're having that kind of day)
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla or scrapings of one scraped vanilla bean
- 1 small container of greek yogurt (about 4oz)
- vanilla wafer cookies


Beat the whipped cream until stiff peaks form, not too long as it can turn into butter consistency.
Add vanilla and 1 heaping tablespoon of sugar and beat for about 30 more seconds to 1 minutes, so that the two get incorporated.
Cut up the strawberries and crumble vanilla wafers into small pieces by hand. 
Set up the three different bowls (cut up strawberries, vanilla whipped cream, and vanilla wafer cookies) next to the bowls/glasses you're using to place your Eton Mess in.
Begin with the cream. Evenly spread out one layer on the bottom of your glasses.
Top with the cookie pieces and then with some strawberries. Add another layer of cream, vanilla wafer pieces and strawberries. Depending on the height of your glasses you may add another layer. End with a topping of strawberries and some fresh mint leaves. 

Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love bringing cookies to get-together's with friends. Or taking cookies to the neighbors. Or sending a package with cookies to friends that moved to San Francisco. It's nice. Everyone likes a good cookie. And if you don't like a good cookie there is something wrong with you. And you're probably not my friend. But if you like cookies, we can be friends. And I'll bake you cookies. Because that's what I do.


You know how they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach? Well, we have already established that you probably shouldn't bring cookies to a first date, remember? The whole thinking-about-his-mom thing? Not so desirable on a date. If you like him as well, though, and you've seen him on a few different occasions, you can bring him some cookies. The thing is that some researchers have established that boys commonly pick girls who resemble their mom in more features than just any random girl. So, after a few dates you want him to compare you to his mom, unconsciously, though. You don't want him to actually think you're like his mom. Just a little. Get it? By the way, for any boys who read this, if you bring a girl homemade cookies at any point, even on a first date, you're awesome! Well, in my book you are. And if she thinks you're being creepy, send her my way and I'll tell her a thing or two about what kind of guys bake cookies for girls. Or I might just beat her for thinking you're creepy. Actually if she doesn't like cookies, she's probably no good anyways. 


If you don't know how to bake cookies for the boy/girl you like, read this. It'll make him (or her) like you. I promise. Because he/she will love your cookies and then hopefully you, since you made them. And if he/she doesn't like your cookies, there is probably something wrong with him or her. 


Cookies. Chocolate Chip and Molasses Cookies. I've made too many batches of cookies to count. I've experimented with cookie doughs a lot. So much that I can't count the failed cookie dough batches either. I am going to share my secrets with you. My secrets to a great chocolate chip cookie. 


I hope my cookie recipe trumps your mom's. I'm not a competitive baker, but if my recipe trumps your moms or your grandma's, please tell me. If you're too lazy to bake some, come visit me. I always have cookies or at least cookie dough prepared. Because, guess what, the dough (or the baked cookies) can be frozen so that when you feel like having a cookie, you can just turn on your oven and take the prepared dough out of the freezer. And make yourself a damn cookie. Actually these cookies are very sweet and nice. They don't deserve harsh language. Be nice around them. Or I can bake cookies with you. That would be nice, too. Just do that. Come visit me and let's bake some cookies!


Bakeybakebake! Let's do this!
Get your butter melting in a small sauce pan. 

While the butter gets all liquid, gather the rest of your cookie dough ingredients. In this case flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, molasses, one egg and one egg yolk, and vanilla.

Also gather all the add-ins you would like to incorporate in your chocolate chip cookies. Set them aside.

Chocolate chips are good, and so are nuts as well as toffee bits. To get an outstanding chocolate chip cookie, though, I recommend getting real chocolate bars and cutting them up into smaller pieces. This is secret number one. By cutting up the chocolate bar, you get bigger pieces and those make for a mouth full of chocolatey goodness when the cookie is baked. 
Sift the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl.

You will get this! A mountain of absolutely clump free flour/salt/baking soda.

Put the sugar in another bowl (this recipe calls for a lot of different bowls, sorry)
Oil a measuring cup by either spraying it or pouring olive oil in it and using a small piece of paper towel or a brush to get it greasy. Now, pour the molasses into your measuring cup and then pour it into the bowl with the sugar. The oil will help with getting the molasses out of the measuring cup and keep it from sticking to the side. See how clean it comes out?

Mix the molasses and the sugar together.

Keep stirring until well incorporated. Will you look at that? It's just like brown sugar! This by the way, is the second tip to a good chocolate chip cookie. You could just use brown sugar, but the molasses gives the cookie a hint of caramel. 

Now get your melted and slightly cooled down butter.

Oh, and the egg and the egg yolk. You'll need those as well.

Cream the butter and the sugar together for about three minutes and then add the egg and the egg yolk. 

Now, drizzle in the vanilla. 

Keep on beating some more, because it's so much fun. Slowly add the sifted flour mix.

Mix the dough until it gets fairly smooth again. 

If you intend to make different batches (with different add-ins), this would be the time to divide the dough into separate bowls. 

Hey look! That's me dividing the dough into small ikea bowls. 

Now you need to put the bowls, covered with plastic wrap, into the fridge for a few minutes. While the dough chills, cut up the chocolate bars. I know it's extra work, but really, it's so worth it!

Get the dough out of the refrigerator and add in whatever you want to add in. I made three different batches. One with just milk and semi-sweet chocolate, one with chocolates and nuts, and one with toffee bits and chocolates.

Add as many chocolate bits as you can fit in. It should seem like you added wayyyy too much chocolate. It's good that way! I promise! Now put the bowl(-s) back into the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, and let the dough chill for at least 30 minutes. (I actually kept mine in the fridge overnight.)

When you're ready to progress in the cookie baking process, prepare your baking sheet (or sheets if you're using all the dough at once).
Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and grease the foil/parchment paper with oil or butter.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and take the cookie dough out of the fridge. Scoop about walnut sized dough balls and place them on the cookie sheet. 

Sprinkle some sea salt on the cookies. It will emphasize the chocolate taste. It's good. Really. If you feel hesitant, at least try it on a few of the cookies.

Make sure some of the pieces of sea salt actually stick to the dough and they don't just all fall to the side.

Put your baking sheet in the oven for about 10 to 14 minutes, depending on how well you want your cookies baked.

Let the cookies cool down on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes. I know, I'm a big old meanie. Sorry. Then, transfer the cookies to a layer of paper towel to let them cool down completely. You may sneak one now. 

And that's it. Take some to your neighbors or send some to a friend who you haven't seen in a while. Or just eat them all!

Guten Appetit!


Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies
adapted from Alton Brown's The Chewy


Cookie dough
- 2 sticks of butter
- 2 cups + 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 teaspoon of salt 
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 1/4 cup and 1 teaspoon of Molasses
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add ins
- 2 cups of milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup of dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup of any other add in (walnuts, almonds, pecans, toffee, peanut chips, white chocolate chips etc.)
- about 1 teaspoon of good quality salt (sea salt is good)


Melt the butter in a small sauce pan over low-medium heat. 
Sift together the flour, salt, and the baking soda in a medium size bowl. 
Pour the melted butter in a large bowl. If you have a KitchenAid, just use the mixing bowl of that.
In another bowl combine the sugar and the molasses until the molasses is well incorporated and looks just like brown sugar.
Add the melted butter to the sugar and molasses mixture and cream them together for about 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the egg yolk, the egg, and the vanilla extract. Mix everything unti it's combined. 
Slowly start adding the flour, salt and baking soda mix and combine with the rest of the ingredients until at an even and smooth consistency.  
If you intend to add different things to the cookie dough, divide up your dough into two or three different bowls.
Put the dough in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. 
Take the dough out of the fridge and add the chocolate chips and/or nuts. 
Put the dough back in the fridge or freezer for another 20 minutes and preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with Parchment paper or Aluminum Foil and drizzling oil on it. Use a piece of paper towel or a brush to grease the foil or parchment paper.
Use a spoon to scoop pieces of dough out of the bowl and form them into balls. 
Set them on the baking sheet and sprinkle with a little bit of sea salt.
Bake the cookies for about 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown, depending on how "done" you want them. (For slightly underdone, doughy cookies go with 10 minutes for crunchy cookies leave them in the oven for 14 minutes)
Cool the cookies completely before taking off the baking sheet and store in an airtight container. 
If you only intend to eat a few, these cookies can be kept in the freezer and even taste good right out of the freezer.